Chapter Six Happy Endings All Around

The Long Awaited Final Chapter Is Here!

Matt stood the griddle making his famous banana-nut pancakes for breakfast, a treat usually reserved for Saturday mornings when the Camden adults slept in. Ruthie was sitting at the table where Matt had set her up with a coloring book and a box of new crayons.

"Pancakes on a Thursday ", Simon asked as he came in the kitchen rubbing his eyes. He had begun to get used to his scars, which were now almost a week old and had faded to a slightly less violent shade of red.

"It's a not just any Thursday, today is Thanksgiving," Matt reminded him.

"Where's Mom?" Simon asked as he took a seat.

"She went out", Matt said uncomfortably watching the batter cook in order to avoid meeting his brother's eye.

Ruthie stopped coloring. "She went to the church."

"To be early for the Thanksgiving mass", Matt covered quickly, shooting Ruthie a look. "And you know, maybe help Dad with his sermon a bit."

"Is Aunt Julie helping Daddy with his sermon too", Ruthie wanted to know.

"Maybe", Matt answered, sighing. He knew he couldn't be mad at Ruthie, not many five-year-olds had been trained in the art of bluffing. Lucy lumbered in from the hall yawning widely.

"Happy Thanksgiving Princess Bedhead", Matt joked, placing a plate in front of her. Ruthie and Simon laughed.

"It's Your Royal Highness to you ", Lucy stuck her tongue. "Cool, banana pancakes."

"Is this some kind of bribe", Mary inquired with grouchy suspicion, having entered the room behind her sister.

"And why pray tell would I ever try to bribe you guys", Matt placed a hand on his heart pretending to gravely insulted.

"You probably thought if you made our favorite breakfast on a day that wasn't Saturday you might be able to get our consent for a certain unsolicited guest to eat Thanksgiving dinner with us."

Simon, Lucy, and Ruthie shifted uncomfortably from Mary to Matt as if watching a long rally in a volleyball match. Dramatics and meals went hand in hand at the Camden house.

"Be careful Suzie Sunshine or your face might freeze like that", Matt warned.

"It doesn't matter", Mary shot back. "Pancakes or no pancakes, my vote is still no!

****

She positioned herself on the kneeler

sobbing slightly as she offered up a prayer.

Oh God,

I've lost my way these past few months yet you still stood by me by sending me to stay with Eric the man who will always believe in me more than I deserve. Give me the strength of will to bring myself out of this five-month funk and believe in myself again. Help Simon and the other kids to realize that I will always love them and find it in their hearts to forgive my flaws. Allow Annie the peace of mind to

reconcile with herself over her mother's death and know happiness again this Thanksgiving. Amen.

The aisle of the church was conveniently carpeted with masked the sound of Annie heels as she approached, but Julie's prayer was so heartfelt that Annie let out a small gasp. "That was so beautiful", she said quietly.

Julie turned around. "Oh, I thought you were Eric", she said. "I'm surprised he hasn't shown up yet."

"He'll show up", Annie assured her. " Just when he thinks you think you've outsmarted him, he'll show up."

Julie nodded, laughing, "That's Eric in a nutshell; he got the sneaky genes in our family and most of the smart ones too "

Annie placed a hand on her sister-in-law's shoulder. "You're pretty smart yourself."

There was a questioning gleam in Julie's eye, "Speaking of smarts how did you find me", she asked.

"I saw it on my mother's TV" , Annie blurted out, before realizing how long it would take to explain the dream she had had last night.

"Huh?" Julie's eyebrows elevated in confusion.

"I mean I saw something similar on an episode of Mary Tyler Moore", Annie backpedaled. "It was my mother's favorite TV show."

"Oh," Julie said, "I haven't seen that show in ages but I'll take your word for it."

"And I realized I wouldn't be able to have a good Thanksgiving until I settled things with you, Julie", Annie continued. "My mother wanted me to forgive and ask for forgiveness from others—or she would've if she were still alive. Anyway, I am so sorry Julie, and Eric and I would absolutely love it if you spent Thanksgiving at the house with the family." Annie embraced Julie.

"I don't think that'll be necessary", Julie observed as she returned the hug, peeking over her left shoulder as a crowd filed into the church.

"Really I insist", said Annie eagerly.

"Turn around", Julie chuckled.

Huddled in the doorway of the church, listening to this whole exchange were Eric, Matt, Lucy, Simon, and Ruthie. Even Mary stood in the background carrying a pot coffee pot. Both women cast them a questioning look.

"I was looking for you," Eric explained to Julie. but I found this bunch instead."

"We come bringing breakfast", Matt said.

"I should say you did", agreed Annie shocked at the scene she was witnessing. "Looks delicious," remarked Julie. "What have we got here?"

Matt smiled proudly. "Well, first, a plate of my famous banana-nut pancakes." He placed it on a pew.

"Here's some bacon and sausage", Simon offered. Julie shrank back a little at the sight of him, but his bright grin made the angry gashes she had inflicted seem faded. "I've got some orange juice", added Lucy. "And they let me carry the fruit salad", Ruthie announced.

Annie watched as the banquet grew and noticed Mary was still holding something . "What's that?" "The most important part", Mary answered. The coffee." Everyone laughed.

"Enough of this talking", said Eric. "Let's eat!"

Once things settled Matt said, "We know this Thanksgiving breakfast but you guys still liked it, right?"

"Are you kidding", Julie cried. "I absolutely love Matt's banana-nut pancakes." Catching Ruthie's indignant look Julie added, "And the fruit salad was delicious, Ruth"

"Thanks!"

Julie nodded. "You're welcome sweetie. Now if you guys would excuse us, I would like a word with Simon." Annie became perceptively tense at the request but relaxed at her husband's touch. "I guess that would be all right! Come on kids."

"Thank you," Julie whispered as people left.

"Hi Simon," Julie said quietly.

"Hi."

Simon's aunt brushed a strand of blond hair off of his forehead careful not to touch the cuts . "Simon I can't tell you how sorry I am—for last week", Julie clarified in case Simon didn't know.

"It's ok", Simon forgave her.

"That's sweet", Julie patted his hand. "But there are things you need to understand."

With that, she presented her nephew with a watered down version of the story she had recounted to Eric the day before.

"Oh", Simon said, his mouth agape.

"There's still no excuse for ever hurting you", Julie finished. "But you deserved to know the truth. Do you have any questions?"

"Are you better?"

"Not completely, no. But I promise I will, eventually, because every time I think about having a drink, I'll remember how it made me so sick that I hurt my nephew, whom I love very much."

"You promise?"

"'My most excellent promise'", Julie quoted hugging him. "What'll happen now", Simon asked.

Julie shook her head and repeated to Simon the words Matt had spoken to Ruthie the other day in the waiting room.

"I honestly don't know", she said.

That's all folks…sike. I'm open to sequel ideas. Some questions you should consider: How many years should elapse between 'Facing Inner Demons' and the sequel? Should Julie get married? Have kids? Thanks so much for all the awesome reviews! I love you guys ! aarent